Prabowo Declares “War on Waste” in Bali and Beyond

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has launched a nationwide initiative to combat the country’s escalating waste crisis, with a particular focus on the tourism hotspot of Bali. The effort, framed as a “war on waste” (perang terhadap sampah), involves mobilizing regional authorities, schools, and potentially the military to address the issue, highlighting the critical link between environmental cleanliness and Indonesia’s tourism sector.

Bali Under Scrutiny

President Prabowo publicly criticized Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster and regional officials earlier this month, citing complaints from foreign dignitaries regarding the state of cleanliness on the island. He displayed photographs of trash-covered beaches during a speech, emphasizing the negative impact of waste on Indonesia’s image and tourism revenue South China Morning Post. Bali welcomed 6.9 million foreign tourists in 2025, up from 6.3 million in 2024 South China Morning Post.

A Familiar Approach: Mobilization and Clean-Ups

The President’s response centers on large-scale mobilization, a strategy with deep roots in Indonesian history. He suggested enlisting schoolchildren for beach clean-ups, stating, “Whether on a Friday or Saturday, all schools should gather on the beach.” He also threatened to deploy the military and police for regular clean-ups, invoking the term korve—corvée labor—to emphasize the seriousness of the effort South China Morning Post. Civil servants are also expected to dedicate at least half an hour each morning to cleaning areas outside their offices.

Beyond Bali: A National Crisis

While Bali serves as a focal point due to its high visibility, the waste crisis extends across Indonesia. The issue is exacerbated by factors such as overtourism, insufficient waste management infrastructure, and a lack of public awareness South China Morning Post. The country enacted its first waste management law in 2008, and in 2017, a policy aimed at making Indonesia “clean from waste” by 2025 was introduced, but progress has been limited VNExpress.

Historical Context: Gotong Royong and Cleanliness Campaigns

The emphasis on mass mobilization aligns with Indonesia’s tradition of gotong royong—mutual cooperation—and past cleanliness campaigns. Similar initiatives, such as “Clean Friday” (Jumat Bersih) introduced during the Suharto era, have been used to mobilize citizens for sanitation efforts. These campaigns often function as a means for the state to mobilize labor, sometimes compensating for inadequate infrastructure VNExpress.

Limitations of Downstream Solutions

Experts caution that focusing solely on clean-ups and downstream solutions may not address the root causes of the problem. While these efforts can raise awareness and demonstrate action, they often fail to tackle unsustainable production patterns and inadequate waste management systems. Initiatives like waste banks have struggled to scale up and integrate with existing informal recycling networks. The reliance on clean-ups can normalize littering by creating the expectation that someone else will clean up the mess.

Waste-to-Energy Plans

Alongside the mobilization efforts, President Prabowo has announced plans to construct waste-to-energy plants in 34 cities. While these facilities could offer a potential solution for managing waste, their effectiveness depends on reliable upstream sorting and long-term maintenance.

Looking Ahead

President Prabowo’s “war on waste” represents a renewed commitment to addressing Indonesia’s environmental challenges. However, a comprehensive solution requires a multi-faceted approach that extends beyond mobilization and clean-ups, encompassing regulation, infrastructure investment, and producer responsibility. The focus must shift from simply managing waste to preventing it in the first place.